Newborn

Welcome To The World Baby T!

Photographing the Stephens family during their in home newborn session was so enjoyable.  Being in the client’s home in this time of new changes and stress often fosters anxiety.  I mean, on paper it sounds so wonderful to have the photographer come to your home.  No need to try and get yourself, family and new baby ready and to a studio.  But when the day arrives, there is often panic if yourself and home aren’t magazine cover ready.  It’s ok if your hair is still not done and you have no makeup on and spit up down your shirt when I get there.  My client’s do not need to be camera ready when I arrive.  It’s ok if there are legos, ride on toys and baby dolls creating an obstacle course suitable for ninjas.  The house absolutely does not need to be perfectly cleaned and organized.  I work best in a chaotic house, because I live in one myself!!!  I want them to feel no pressure to be anything but themselves.  The more relaxed and at ease they are, the better the session is for everyone.

That is why I so enjoyed this particular session. A warm smile and a toddler eating breakfast greeted me when I arrived.  A playroom with a tee pee and toy trucks became my makeshift studio.  My heart was in its happy place.  This new mother and I interacted and talked as if we had been known each other for years.  There was a sense of comfort among us, and that was uplifting.  It is not always easy to cart around all my set up, but it is worth it to have my client accept me as a friend into their home.

Welcome Baby K!

Each session I do is unique, and the Hegde newborn session was no exception.  Though many people say all newborns look alike, they certainly do not act alike.  Every new baby is born with a individualized personality and set of traits unique to them.  Yes, I believe their personality is evident from day one.  Baby boy K is without a doubt the happiest baby I have had the privilege of meeting.  I have never witnessed so many giant smiles on such a tiny face, and no they weren’t all gas!  His smiles stretched from ear to ear, and they went on for hours.  The kind of smiles newborn photographers dream of were happening right in front of me, and I cherished each one.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a first time parent or seasoned photographer, a newborn smile will bring instant joy every time.  The purity within a new baby is to me, one of the many wonders of the world.  It is sacred and precious, and I for one feel blessed each time I bear witness to it.  I hope that each one of us has reason every single day to smile a smile as real and pure as Baby K.

Welcome to the World Baby J!

Congratulations to the Deng family on the arrival of their son!  Weeks prior I had photographed this precious couple’s maternity session, and I was excited to see them as parents.  They shared their fears and hopes of what their life would look like from the role of first time parents.  I related to them, and I really wanted to hear what their first week was like.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by the same excited smiles and hellos I had remembered from before.  It wasn’t long though before I learned that the nights were long, and it was catching up fast.  They talked about the lack of sleep and how he cried, and as I listened I couldn’t help but think of my own child.  The midnight hours walking, rocking, bouncing, singing, and sometimes crying right along with her.  I would do anything my sleep deprived brain could think of to stop the crying.  But they tears do dry, and the sleep does come.  Now I have a energetic and independent toddler, and I often miss those late nights when she would finally find sleep in my arms.  Her breathing would deepen and her body would relax into me, and even though I ached for sleep I couldn’t put her down.  I wanted a few more minutes to stare at her perfect features and kiss her prefect cheeks.

The first weeks are hard for all new parents, but they are some of the most precious and defining moments in a person’s life.

Welcome to the World Sweet Boy!

When I entered the home of the Abdillah family, I was greeted with such warmth and welcome.  The joy of bringing a new baby home was displayed on the proud parents and grandparents faces.  As I typically do, I use my set up time to learn about the members of the family.  There were stories of world travels and living abroad, and I immediately began to see the great love of adventure in this family.  These new parents may be stateside, but their biggest adventure has just begun!

My goal in my work is quite simple.  I aspire to briefly stop time’s passing through photographs and create visual memories.  Hearing this new mother describe how much her son has changed in 48 hours reminded me of the purpose of these photographs.  As her son grows, she will be able to look back on these photographs and remember his first days.  They will visually bring her back to his tiny toes, forehead wrinkles and delicate fingers.  Most of all, she will not remember the sleepless nights and tears and will only remember the quiet early morning hours spent holding him.  In addition to providing beautiful photographs for the home, they are memory holders.